Superheroes rule this summer, and Scott Bowles gives details on the movies, their back stories and their secret weapons. (Dates subject to change.)

Eric Bana stars in The Hulk, based on the long-running Marvel Comics character.

The Hulk, June 20

Back story: Dr. Bruce Banner, a physicist, is exposed to gamma radiation during a bomb test. When he gets angry, he transforms into the 7-foot, 1,000-pound Hulk. Hulk follows Banner's flight from the military, which wants to harness his power or destroy him.

Comic history: The Hulk made its debut in 1962 in Marvel Comics' The Incredible Hulk No. 1. It's regularly a top-10 seller.

Secret weapon: Ang Lee. Since the man behind Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon agreed to direct, comic book fans have been optimistic the green brooder will finally lose his TV stigma. Eric Bana stars as the brooder, Jennifer Connelly as his love, and Sam Elliott as Gen. "Thunderbolt" Ross, who hunts him.

Archnemesis: Persnickety fans. Like Spider-Man, The Hulk has generated heated debate over his movie look. At issue: Should Hulk keep the purple pants of the comic book or storm about in the buff? An unconcerned Lee says he's just sick of green: "Every time I see a tree, I want to throw up."

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, July 2

Back story: The saga of the battle between humans and the artificial intelligence of the evil SkyNet network. Set a decade after T2, this time the network sends yet another Terminator (Kristanna Loken) back in time to kill rebel leader John Connor. The humans re-program Arnold Schwarzenegger to defend them.

Comic history: Released four years after the original 1984 film, the comic book was one of the few film-inspired series to make it as its own comic series (along with Star Wars, Aliens and Predator). It stopped publishing in 1996.

Secret weapon: Schwarzenegger. He may be 55 years old, but he remains the king of action heroes. And he is just as buff, says T3 director Jonathan Mostow. Schwarzenegger worked out three to five hours a day to prepare. "There are shots in this movie where you can't tell if it's from this one or T2."

Archnemesis: Comparisons with the past. The first two films had director James Cameron and U.S. ticket sales of $241.7 million. If the third is judged by its predecessors, the franchise may not be back.

The League, July 11

Back story: Based on the comic The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, the film tells the story of a team of fictional adventurers, including The Invisible Man and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, culled from classic 19th-century literature. They are covertly brought together to defend the British empire.

Comic history: League first appeared in a six-issue America's Best Comics miniseries that made its debut in 1999, written by cult British comics author Alan Moore and illustrated by Kevin O'Neill. The latest, the six-episode League of Extraordinary Gentlemen 2, hit stands last July.

Secret weapon: Smarts. With heroes like Allan Quatermain (Sean Connery), Captain Nemo (Naseeruddin Shah) and Dorian Gray (Stuart Townsend), this is likely to be smarter than the average blockbuster. "It's the kind of comic book movie that's never been done before," producer Don Murphy says. "How many times can Hollywood say that?"

Archnemesis: Recognition. Though it has a strong following in the comic book world, it's no Spider-Man. Connery will help the marquee value, but it will take an astute ad campaign to entice audiences in a competitive summer.

Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life, July 25

Back story: Cradle continues the saga of the archaeologist and explorer extraordinaire. Croft journeys to an underwater temple that leads to a sphere containing the mythical Pandora's Box.

Comic history: Lara Croft became a comic in 1999 after the smash success of the video games. Both the video game and original movie, which took in $131.2 million domestically in 2001, have fared better than the comic book.

Secret weapon: Angelina Jolie. Sure, the original film was ripped by most critics, but fans couldn't stop talking about her T-shirt in the snow scene. This one sports Jolie in a skin-tight wet suit and a bikini. "I think girls like the movies because it's a James Bond for them," Jolie says. "She gets the gadgets and cool outfits this time."

Archnemesis: Game fatigue. While Croft remains a popular video franchise, it's hardly the craze it was four years ago, having dipped below the Grand Theft Auto and Madden football games. If teens are tired of the game, it may bring an end to this franchise.

American Splendor, Aug. 15

Back story: This is the true story of Harvey Pekar, a file clerk at a Cleveland Veterans hospital who longs to write comic books.

Comic history: Splendor, which has been running since 1976, may be the most serious comic book ever. It tells of Pekar's battle with lymphoma and his insecurities about age and obscurity.

Secret weapon: Adults craving serious films. Unlike the summer's other bombastic comic fare, this one is all character study. "Comic books are hardly a junk medium," says Splendor writer Shari Springer. "This movie is going to show its diversity." Pekar, played by Paul Giamatti, has a cult following from Letterman appearances.

Archnemesis: Kids favor explosions over exposition in the summer. Is there an audience for a thoughtful comic hero?